PSG's Lee Kang-in named top S. Korean footballer of 2025

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in has been named South Korean football's top male player for 2025. The Korea Football Associati on Tuesday announced Lee as the winner of its annual Male Player of the Year award at the KFA Awards ceremony at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, some 90 kilometers south of Seoul. The KFA began recognizing top individual players in 2010, and this is Lee's first honor. The winner was determined by votes from the media and KFA officials. During the 2024-25 season

Feb. 24, 2026

Soccer star Ki Sung-yueng files appeal in damages lawsuit over sexual assault allegations

South Korean soccer star Ki Sung-yueng has appealed a damages ruling in his lawsuit against two former junior teammates who accused him of sexual assault, with hearings at the Seoul High Court set to begin next month. According to legal officials Monday, the appellate court will open proceedings on March 20. The case centers on allegations made by two former junior players from Ki's elementary school soccer club in South Jeolla Province, who claimed they were sexually assaulted by older teammate

Feb. 2, 2026

[Graphic News] Son, global stars take ‘last dance’ at 2026 World Cup

South Korean men’s national soccer team captain Son Heung-min is expected to headline the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the tournament likely marking his final appearance on soccer’s biggest stage. Now in his mid-30s, Son embodies the culmination of a golden era for Korean soccer, combining global stardom, leadership and consistency across four World Cups. FIFA’s “Last Dance” spotlight places him alongside some of the sport’s defining figures, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modri

Jan. 28, 2026

S. Korea stay at No. 22 in FIFA rankings; slight changes for World Cup foes

South Korea remained at No. 22 in the first FIFA rankings of the new year released Tuesday, while two of their World Cup opponents had slight changes in their positions. South Korea have been at No. 22 since October. The Taegeuk Warriors have not played any match since November. Among Asian Football Confederation members, Japan remained the top team, though they slipped a spot to No. 19. Iran are next at No. 20. Mexico, South Korea's second Group A opponent at this year's World Cup, fell one spo

Jan. 20, 2026

S. Korea to take attack mindset vs. Japan at Asian U-23 football tournament

South Korea will take an attack mindset into their rival showdown against Japan at the top Asian men's under-23 football tournament in Saudi Arabia, their assistant coach said Monday. South Korea will face Japan in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium in Jeddah on Tuesday. The kickoff is 2:30 p.m. local time, or 8:30 p.m. in South Korea. Assistant coach Lee Kyung-soo, who attended the prematch press conference in place

Jan. 19, 2026

S. Korea beat Australia to reach semifinals at Asian U-23 football tournament

South Korea have advanced to the semifinals of the top Asian men's under-23 football tournament with a narrow win over Australia in Saudi Arabia. Baek Gaon and Shin Min-ha had a goal apiece to lift South Korea past Australia 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Asian Cup at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium in Jeddah on Saturday. Luka Jovanovic was the lone goal scorer for Australia. In the semifinals, South Korea will take on Japan, who defeated Jordan 4-2 on p

Jan. 18, 2026

S. Korean announcement of World Cup base camp postponed on FIFA recommendation

The South Korean football federation announced Saturday the announcement of the national team's base camp for this year's FIFA World Cup will be put on hold until further notice from the global governing body. The Korea Football Association (KFA) had been scheduled to reveal South Korea's base camp during the upcoming World Cup on Saturday. With the country scheduled to play all three group stage matches in Mexico, the Taegeuk Warriors were expected to set up their home away from home in the Nor

Jan. 17, 2026

S. Korea advance to quarterfinals of Asian U-23 football tournament

South Korea reached the quarterfinals of the top Asian men's under-23 football tournament despite a loss in their final group stage match in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Coached by Lee Min-sung, South Korea lost to Uzbekistan 2-0 to close out Group C play at the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Asian Cup at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh. Behruzjon Karimov had the match's first goal in the 48th minute and Saidumarkhon Saidnurullaev doubled Uzbekistan's lead in the 70th minute.

Jan. 13, 2026

[Graphic News] K League hits record gate revenue

The K League continued its surge in popularity for a third consecutive year, setting new records for both total gate receipts and average revenue per spectator in the 2025 season. The Korea Professional Football League announced that combined gate revenue from K League 1 and K League 2 reached 46.09 billion won ($31.4 million), the highest since official records began in 2013 and an 8.3 percent increase from 2024. Gate receipts have risen sharply over the past three years, from 34.4 billion won

Jan. 13, 2026

PSG's Lee Kang-in to be sidelined for 'several weeks' due to injury

The French football champions Paris Saint-Germain will be without their South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in for "several weeks" due to an injury. The club announced Friday that Lee will be sidelined after sustaining a left thigh injury during the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final in Qatar against CR Flamengo. Lee got the start in the match held Wednesday but was subbed out in the 35th minute after picking up his injury. Minutes earlier, Lee had gotten tangled up with Gonzalo Plata and fallen awkwa

Dec. 20, 2025

[Graphic News] S. Korea kicks off 2026 World Cup journey

South Korea has been drawn into Group A for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside co-host Mexico, South Africa and the eventual winner of European playoff Group D, which includes Denmark, the Czech Republic, Ireland and North Macedonia. The final European qualifier will be decided on April 1, 2026. The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, featuring 104 matches over 39 days. South Korea’s group-stage schedule has been fully confirmed and will take place entirely in Mexico. Korea will open it

Dec. 19, 2025

Ex-national team forward Suk Hyun-jun joins new K League 2 club

Suk Hyun-jun, former South Korea international once convicted of dodging mandatory military service, will get a fresh start with a new second-division club in his old stomping ground. Yongin FC, set to make their K League 2 debut in 2026, announced Monday they have acquired the 34-year-old Suk. The well-traveled forward has spent the bulk of his club career in Europe, with stops in the Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey and France, plus a brief stint in Saudi Arabia. He has accumulated 15 caps for th

Dec. 15, 2025

Korea to take 'scientific approach' in selecting World Cup base camp: coach

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo said Friday his team will need to take "more of a scientific approach" when selecting their base camp for next year's FIFA World Cup. Hong returned home after attending the World Cup draw in Washington last week and then checking out base camp options for the Taegeuk Warriors in Mexico, one of three co-hosts alongside the United States and Canada. South Korea ended up in Group A with Mexico, South Africa and a European playoff winner to be determined in March

Dec. 12, 2025

Lingard’s tearful farewell and 3 changes he says K League needs

Jesse Lingard ended his time at FC Seoul with a goal and a tearful farewell, leaving behind a message on where he believes the K League must improve. The former Manchester United and Premier League star captained Seoul in his final match against Melbourne City on Wednesday in the AFC Champions League Elite group stage, scoring the team’s only goal before saying goodbye to home fans at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Lingard, one of the biggest names ever to play in the K League, joined FC Seoul in Febr

Dec. 11, 2025

Korea coach sees no easy opponent in World Cup group

WASHINGTON -- With South Korea having avoided a top-10 opponent in the group stage of next year's FIFA World Cup, head coach Hong Myung-bo still said Friday there won't be any easy team for his side. At the draw for the big tournament held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., earlier in the day, South Korea ended up in Group A with Mexico, South Africa and a winner of one of four European playoffs. Mexico are the highest-ranked team in that group at No. 15, seven spots ahead of South Korea

Dec. 6, 2025